About Yorkshire Young Musicians

About YYM

Advanced training

YYM was established in 2004 to provide advanced training for exceptionally talented young musicians aged between 8 and 18 within the Yorkshire and Humber region. It aims to enable specialist young musicians in the region to benefit from the highest quality tuition in their locality, rather than having to travel long distances or go away to school

It is overseen by a unique partnership comprising Opera North, Leeds College of Music and all sixteen local authority music services in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Its director is Penny Stirling.

It currently operates every Sunday at two centres; one in Leeds at Leeds College of Music and the other at Albemarle Music Centre in Hull.

YYM provides specialist (one-to-one) instrumental tuition and advance general musicianship training across a wide range of musical genres and traditions

It is an inclusive scheme, available to all who can benefit, regardless of their means, social or ethnic background, or whether they have any disability. Government financial support is available ensuring that this opportunity is within everyone’s reach. Students can get government support not only for their fees, but sometimes also for such elements as instrument and travel costs. The only restrictions stem from the need for all participants to possess the very high levels of musicianship and commitment required to benefit from the scheme, and by the availability of suitable specialist tuition.

What does studying at YYM involve?

When

YYM operates on Sundays during term time. If you join the scheme you will find the wide variety of activities on offer will take up most of the day, roughly between 9.30am and 4.00pm. Some instrumental tuition may take place at other times, by arrangement.

The Sunday sessions are designed to leave you free to continue to participate in any general school and local authority music activities with which you wish to be involved.

Where

Teaching takes place in two centres: one in Leeds at Leeds College of Music and the other at Albemarle Music Centre in Hull.

Why

Music is a demanding but richly fulfilling discipline. It brings its own rewards, but it also fosters wider attributes such as creativity, self-confidence, self-discipline and teamwork.

If you aspire to a career in music then the YYM scheme provides a firm foundation and will prepare you for a Conservatoire or University education. This standard of musical education is not readily available through the regular school system.

If a career in music is not for you, and you plan to study and work in some other professional sphere, you will nevertheless find that your life has been equally enriched by your experience in Yorkshire Young Musicians.

How

Once you have got through your audition to YYM an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be drawn up for you by the Director, in close consultation with your parents / carers and the YYM mentor from the teaching team, who will be allocated to you. Your mentor will continue to monitor your progress and development on a regular basis throughout your time at YYM.

Your ILP will usually contain four main elements:

Individual Instrumental Tuition

Ensemble Performance

Musicianship

Second Study

Individual Instrumental Tuition

YYM currently offers individual tuition in the following specialities, and has an ever-expanding team of highly qualified tutors:

Keyboard: piano

Percussion: timpani and orchestral percussion, drum-kit

Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp

Wind: clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon

Brass: trumpet, trombone, french horn, tuba

South Asian Classical: santoor, sitar, tabla, vocal,

Voice

Tuition on your chosen instrument will be central to your Individual Learning Plan.

Your tutor – drawn from the YYM’s panel of teachers specially selected for their experience in the care and development of young talent – will help you develop a carefully designed practice routine. They will also outline (in conjunction with your mentor a framework for the advancement of your technical, interpretative and performing skills. This might include participation in examinations, public concerts and/or local and national competitions.

Who is YYM for?

The scheme

YYM is an inclusive scheme aimed at exceptionally talented young musicians between the ages of 8 and 16.

It is open to all, regardless of their means, their social or ethnic background, or whether they have any disability.

It is musically inclusive, too. It is designed to identify and nurture exceptional talent in all areas of performance and across a wide range of genres and traditions.

How good do I have to be?

You need to possess very high levels of musicianship and to wish to dedicate a significant amount of time to developing your skills still further.

This does not mean that you need to have achieved a certain level of pass in music exams, or any specific formal education achievement. Your ability will be assessed via audition and your acceptance into YYM will be based on potential, not just current achievement.

Advice auditions

If you are unsure whether YYM will be suitable or not, just ask for an advice audition.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does YYM tuition take place?

On Sundays, during term-time, between approximately 10.00 and 4.00

Where does it happen?

At one of the YYM’s Centres. There is one at Leeds College of Music, 3 Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PD and a second in Hull at the Albemarle Music Centre.

How much does it cost?

There are grants and travel bursaries available for those for whom the fees are beyond their means. See Money matters for more information

Who is eligible?

Talented young musicians aged 8 - 18 from the Yorkshire and Humber region. For more details see the box above.

How good do I have to be?

You need to possess very high levels of musicianship and to wish to dedicate a significant amount of time to developing your skills still further.

This does not mean that you need to have achieved a certain level of pass in music exams, or any specific formal education achievement. Your ability will be assessed via audition and your acceptance into YYM will be based on potential, not just current achievement.

Advice auditions

If you are unsure whether YYM will be suitable or not, just ask for an advice audition.

YYM centres

Leeds

Leeds College of Music, 3 Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PD.

The first YYM centre opened is based at Leeds College of Music, the country's largest music
college, situated in the centre of the City of Leeds. YYM has access
to many of its facilities including tutorial and practice rooms, performances
spaces and instruments.

Parking is available close to the College and is relatively easy on a Sunday.

Money matters

Swipe up or scroll down for details

Money matters

Paying for tuition

YYM provides specialist (one-to-one) instrumental tuition and advanced general musicianship training to all who can benefit from it. If the cost of the fees is beyond your means, then there are grants and travel bursaries available.

Fees

Fees are payable in advance, and may be paid termly, annually or by standing order over a few months. Current fees are £3,686 per annum. Maximum grant available is £3,686.

Grants

The Government's Music and Dance scheme provides grants designed to assist those who may need financial support in order to afford Yorkshire Young Musicians Fees, details on request.

Travel Bursaries

Students who are in receipt of grants from the Music and Dance Scheme may also be eligible for bursaries to assist with travel costs incurred in attending Yorkshire Young Musicians.

How to apply

Swipe up or scroll down for details

How to apply

Next audition days

Please phone 01845 597627 or
send a message
for more details.

Step one

Read Who is YYM for? in the home
section of this website to find out whether the approach to learning
music offered by YYM is right for you (or your pupil or offspring if you
are a teacher or parent!). If you think it is, then move on to Step Two.
If you are not sure, why not contact YYM direct, or ask for an advice
audition? Phone: 01845 597627; Click here to email.

Step Two

Download an application form from the website, ring 01845 597627 or contact us to request one to be sent in the post. The form asks for basic details
about yourself (name and address etc) as well as for information about
your current musical capabilities.

Step Three

When you have completed all
sections of part 1 of the application form and had it signed by your parent/carer,
send it off to Yorkshire Young Musicians, PO Box 127, Thirsk, North Yorkshire
YO7 2WX.

Step Four

Give part 2 of the form to your
current teacher, and ask him/her to complete it and post it to YYM at
the same address.

continued …

Step Five - AUDITIONS

All prospective students for
Yorkshire Young Musicians (YYM) will be expected to attend an audition.
This will normally be before a panel of two people.

You should be prepared to perform
two pieces of contrasting style on your first instrument (about ten minutes)
and one piece on your second instrument if you have one.

The panel will be looking for
signs of musical talent and promise regardless of the applicant’s
level of technical accomplishment.

For this reason, you should
choose your audition pieces carefully. It is better to play something
with which you feel totally comfortable rather than a piece which stretches
your current ability and therefore has a “risk” factor.

Before the audition you will
have a chance for a warm-up (but not a terribly long one, so practising
for a while before you leave home is still a good idea). During this time,
if you have asked for an accompanist, they will come and run through your
pieces with you. Remember to bring your accompaniment / piano parts!

In your audition, if you can
play from memory then it would be a good idea to do so, but only if you
feel comfortable doing this.

If the panel have come to a
decision they may not hear the whole of your pieces. Do not be put off
by this as it is quite normal.

Musicianship tests will take
place after you have played, but usually in a group situation. In the
group session you will be asked to do various movements to music so wear
suitable clothes and shoes for moving in (girls are better off in trousers).

A music stand will be provided
but if you require any special equipment you should bring this with you
or speak to the Director of YYM well in advance of the audition.

You will be notified of the
result within two weeks of the audition date.

The panel will want to have a chat with you to
discuss your ideas and hopes for your musical career. Above all, we want
this to be a good opportunity for you to perform so try to keep relaxed
and ENJOY IT!

WIND AND BRASS

PENNY STIRLING GRSM ARCM PGCE FRNCM, Director, violin

Penny Stirling is the Founding Director of Yorkshire Young Musicians.

She was born in Somerset and trained at the Royal College of Music in London. Although graduating as a pianist, her first job was as a Head of Strings and she then went on to run the string department at Wells Cathedral School from 1980 - 1990. After working as Head of the Instrumental Music Service for Wiltshire County Council, she married and moved to Manchester where she became Director of the Junior Strings Project at the Royal Northern College of Music. This innovative course, which won the Partnership Trusts' Thorn EMI award for innovations in music teacher training in 1995 and a Queen's Anniversary Prize for the RNCM in 1998, trains postgraduate students to teach, using children from the local community - thereby giving many youngsters an opportunity to learn a string instrument. Now run in conjunction with Manchester Metropolitan University, this is one of the few courses where teachers can train to teach instrumental music alongside their classroom studies and obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (with subsequent Qualified Teacher Status).

In December 1999 Penny was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Northern College. In 2004, whilst still retaining a part-time position as Consultant to the Junior Strings Project, she moved to North Yorkshire and became Director of Yorkshire Young Musicians, a new DfES Music and Dance Scheme for highly talented children in the Yorkshire and Humber area.

Penny has taught violin, viola and piano at Wells Cathedral School, Chetham's, Junior RNCM and currently at St Peters School, York. She founded the chamber music course 'Young String Venture' at Lake District Summer Music and is Course Director for Pro Corda North and Director of Stirlings Summer Strings.

She often works with County Music Services on Professional Development days and is Course Leader for the Manchester centre of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music's Professional Development course leading to the award of CT ABRSM. In addition, she has worked as a mentor for the CT ABRSM course in Singapore and Hong Kong and as a presenter of Violin Seminars for the Board. Other recent work has taken her to South Carolina (USA), Norway and Bermuda to assist the teachers working for the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation. She adjudicates for many music festivals both at home and abroad.

Andrew studied on the prestigious Joint Course, at the University of Manchester and at the RNCM. He received the Margaret Ann Knowles Major Scholarship and several academic prizes from the University, graduating with first class honours in 2003. At the RNCM he studied composition with Gary Carpenter and Ian Vine and won prizes for composition and jazz improvisation. He has written for film, dance and theatre, and has had performances of his pieces in Europe, Australia and the States.

Andrew plays piano in, and composes for 6pac Jazz Sextet, who received the Royal Northern College of Music Gold Medal from the college Principal in 2004.The sextet has recorded 2 albums, the first of which was funded through the Peter Whittingham Award for an Innovative Jazz Project. Their project involved running workshops at H.E. institutions across the North-West and a nationwide composition competition. They have appeared twice as guest artists for BBC Songs of Praise and perform across the UK. Andrew made his Ronnie Scott’s debut in 2005 with singer Alice Zawadzki, and continues to work with singers across the country, including through Music in Hospitals, which takes live music into healthcare settings across the country.

In addition to teaching at YYM, Andrew has worked in other branches of music education for a number of years. With 6pac he is a member of the Live Music Now! scheme, which takes music to people who would not normally have access to it, and they also run their own Jazz Summer School, in conjunction with Dartington Plus in Devon. He currently teaches piano and jazz piano at the King’s school in Chester, delivers workshops for Streetwise Opera and has taught keyboard and improvisation skills on the London Suzuki Group Summer International School at Bryanston since 2004.

John is a graduate of Surrey University where he studied piano with Peter Croser and since then has worked solely in music. He has been involved in music education for twenty years and has considerable experience as both a classroom and instrumental teacher. He has worked as a peripatetic piano teacher for Hull Music Service, held the position of keyboard and musicianship tutor with East Riding College and taught Music Tech A level at Wyke College. His current work includes piano tutor at Pocklington School and A level examining for Edexcel.

Throughout this time John has enjoyed a busy performing schedule as a freelance pianist / synthesiser player, and also maintains a private practice teaching classical and jazz piano plus music theory and music technology.

He was recently awarded a diploma in jazz piano performance.

ROBERT MARKHAM DMA (Juilliard School), MMus, BMus, ARCM, piano

Following his undergraduate studies and a Masters Degree, Robert Markham completed his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the Juilliard School in New York. As a pianist he earned international recognition as a finalist in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. He has also been first prize winner of the International Vincenzo Bellini Piano Competition in Italy and the Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition in New York, and was awarded the Piano Prize of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

Robert has performed as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician in Europe, Asia and North America. He has recently recorded a CD of Kenneth Leighton's chamber music for piano and strings with the Edinburgh String Quartet. As well as teaching at YYM, Robert currently serves on the staff of Birmingham Conservatoire and is Head of Piano at Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School.

SVETLANA PINEGINA Dip.Perf. (Perm, Russia), piano

Svetlana Pinegina has 20 years' experience of teaching piano and accompanying. She was born in Russia and from the age of 6 studied piano at home with her mother. She later attended a specialist music school, where she studied for 7 years, with the sole intention of becoming a piano tutor.

After finishing music school she began studying piano at the institute of Art and Culture and in 1982 she finished very successfully with a diploma in Piano and orchestral leadership, being amongst the top three candidates.

After completing higher education she worked in Russia for seven years as a piano teacher and accompanist. In 1990 she moved to Germany where she worked for eleven years in a music school as a piano tutor.

Svetlana moved to Leeds in 2001 to work at Leeds College of music as a piano teacher and accompanist.

RACHAEL GIBBON PhD (Manchester), BMus GRNCM, musicianship

Rachael trained at The Royal Northern College of Music, where she majored in Academic Studies. She also gained a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Manchester. As well as her work for YYM, she has taught and lectured for the Music departments of Manchester, Salford and Huddersfield universities and she is a tutor at the Junior RNCM. In addition, she is a clarinettist, pianist and recorder player who performs regularly both as a soloist and orchestral musician.

VIJAY RAJPUT MA, MPhil, PhD, Hindustani classical singing

Born in new Delhi, India, Dr. Vijay Rajput started Learning Music at the tender age of eight. He acquired his initial training and guidance from Pt. M. G. Deshpande, Pt. VinayChander Mudgal and pt. Madhup Mudgal ji. Subsequently, he had a rare opportunity to learn for many years under the tutelage of world renowned Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Ji. He has acquired M.A., M.PHIL., PH.D.Degrees in Hindustani Classical music from the University of Delhi. As a maestro of khayal style of rendition and an artist of international repute, his performances have mesmerized audiences in India and abroad. He has performed in many national and international Sangeet Sammelans festivals and Mahotsave. He got the KALA JYOTHI award in 2010 for his excellent contribution in educating and promoting classical music in the North East of England. He is currently based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He is as keen a teacher as a performer and is a visiting lecturer in vocal music at Newcastle University & Leeds College of Music. He has been a chief examiner of Indian classical music at the Bharatya vidya Bhavan, London.

HARJINDER PAL SINGH BSc. santoor and tabla

Harjinder Pal Singh is a Namdhari Sikh who was born in Jabalpur, India in 1953. He is a senior disciple of the Santoor Maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. His interest in music since his childhood prompted his father to send him to learn Tabla, from Bhai Labh Singh Ji of the Punjab Gharana at the age of 14.

While learning Tabla, Harjinder Pal continued his studies and obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Science. Later on he became the disciple of Ustad Nihal Singh Ji in order to learn the Pakhawaj style of tabla.

Seeing his talent, His Holiness Shri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji, the Spiritual Head of the Namdhari Sect, took Harjinder Pal to Bombay and made him the disciple of the Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma to learn to play the Santoor, the hundred stringed instrument from the valleys of Kashmir. Under the guidance of his Guru, Harjinder Pal started practising the santoor and after years of practice he gave his first public performance in the prestigious Pt. Vishnu Digambhar Paluskar Jayanti Samaroh in New Delhi in 1986. While learning the Santoor he was awarded the Ustad Allauddin Khan Music Academy Bhopal Scholarship and participated in the 'Arambh 16' Festival held in Bhopal.

He has also participated in numerous other festivals including :

Sangeet Nritya Samaroh held in Delhi, which was co-sponsored by Sangeet Natak Academy and ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations).

Several jugalbandi concerts held in Bombay and Pune, with Flute and Guitar.

Youth Festival held in St. Xavier College Bombay.

Sankat Mochan Music Festival Varanasi in 1993.

Harjiner Pal has toured extensively for SPICMACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) and given concerts, lectures and demonstration programmes in schools and colleges in various states in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Bombay. He has participated in the prestigious Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan held in Jalandhar. He is a graded artist of the All India Radio. He has toured abroad and performed in various cities in the United Kingdom and Kenya.

Harjinder Pal has taught music at the Sri Satguru Pratap Singh Ji Music A cademy as well as teaching santoor and tabla privately. He has also taught extensively in England as SAA-uk's Resident Artist. This has included private tuition, masterclasses, group teaching for the Leeds College of Music and teaching in Leicester.

RACHEL DENT BMus(Hons) Grad RNCM, harp

Rachel Dent began studying the harp with Dorothy Gilbertson of Harrogate before accepting a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1997, where she studied with Eira Lynn Jones. She received the Dearden Award for Achievement and the United Kingdom Harp Association Award in 1999 and graduated with an honours degree in 2001.

As a soloist, Rachel has performed widely across the north ofEngland, including venues such as St Ann 's Church, Manchester, Flixton House, Hull University, and Emmanuel Church, Didsbury. Rachel has also provided music for a scene in Granada Television's production of A & E and for BBC Songs of Praise. Her freelance orchestral career has included working with the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Sinfonia ViVa.

As a member of Chiron Duo (flute and harp), Rachel has performed for Manchester Town Hall, the East Riding of Yorkshire Winter Recital Series, St Ann's Church Music Society, and provided music for Granada television's My Favourite Hymns programme. Rachel released her debut album Awake, O Harp in 2004.

Rachel is dedicated to teaching the pedal harp and clarsach, and has over 25 students of all ages and abilities, many achieving outstanding results in both local/national music festivals and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations. She has also had students accepted at Chetham's School of Music, the Purcell School and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music.

As well as teaching at Yorkshire Young Musicians, Rachel is the harp tutor for Leeds University, Ampleforth College, and St Peter's School in York.

CLAIRE HOLDICH BMus(Hons), DipABRSM, voice

Claire graduated from the University of Hull with a first class degree in Music in 2004, and was also awarded the Departmental Prize for outstanding musical achievement. In 2005, Claire gained the Associated Board Diploma in singing.

As a performer, Claire has sung as a concert soloist with Hull Bach Choir, Hull Male Voice Choir and the Arterian Singers. She also enjoys performing at weddings, private functions and local events as both a singer and flautist.

Claire teaches singing, flute and music theory at Hull Collegiate School, Scarborough College, and privately. She is proud to have gained distinction levels in Associated Board examinations with singing pupils at every grade, and has former pupils who have since gone on to study at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Tech Music School London, and Cambridge University with a choral scholarship.

PEGGY NOLAN BMus, 'cello/chamber music

Peggy Nolan began cello lessons at the age of seven. During her school years, she studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin before commencing her third level training at the Royal Northern College of Music studying with Peter Dixon and later Raphael Wallfisch and Hannah Roberts.

Peggy enjoys a varied music life, including chamber music, orchestral playing and teaching. As a member of the Eblana String Trio she has given numerous performances for music societies and festivals throughout the UK. Other highlights have included performing the Hindemith String Trios in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a recital for the Internationales Musikfest Goslar, Germany, as well as being selected as Park Lane Young Artists from 2015-2016. For two years the trio held the position of Junior Fellows in Chamber Music at Birmingham Conservatoire, providing chamber music classes and tuition to students within the chamber music department.

Peggy was a founding member of the Borromini Quartet, a young London-based ensemble, performing on instruments and bows of the classical period. In 2011 the quartet were finalists of the York Early Music Competition for young ensembles, and were chosen as beneficiaries of the Brighton Early Music Live scheme 2012-2013.

A busy freelance musician, Peggy frequently performs with some of the UK and Ireland’s finest orchestras including the Halle, BBC Philharmonic, English National Opera, Orchestra of Opera North, and Irish Chamber Orchestra.

Peggy holds an International Artist Diploma in String Leadership, Master of Music and first class Bachelor degree from the RNCM. She has taught at Yorkshire Young Musicians since 2010 and also teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire.

CLAIRE OSBORNE BMus PGD, violin

Originally from Luxembourg, Claire Osborne read Musicology at the Universities of Strasbourg/France and Oxford, obtaining a French Maîtrise de Musicologie in July 2004. She joined Jan Repko’s violin class at the RNCM in September 2005, where she completed her BMus and Postgraduate Diploma in 2007 resp. 2008.

Claire is a former member of the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, the European Union Youth Orchestra as well as the Jeunesses Musicales World Youth Orchestra. This has given her the chance to work with conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. She has attended masterclasses with members of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ensemble Intercontemporain as well as György Pauk, Benjamin Zander, Maurice Hasson, Ivry Gitlis and Tasmin Little.

Before joining Opera North full time in January 2010, Claire led a busy freelance life with the Hallé Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Opera North, as well as back home in Luxembourg with Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. In May 2007, she performed Brahms Violin Concerto with the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra ‘Les Musiciens’. She also regularly appeared in recitals organised by the Schengen Music Academy in Luxembourg, Moscow, Brest, Brussels and Bratislava.

Claire is proud to be part of the YYM tutors’ team as YYM students bring along enthusiasm, talent and, most importantly, their love for music – YYM is a fantastic environment for these young people to blossom!

LUCY NOLAN MMus, viola & chamber music

Dublin-born Lucy hails from a musical family and began her musical studies at the age of eight. In 2004 she moved to Manchester to study at the Royal Northern College of Music graduating with an International Artist Diploma in Orchestral String Leadership, completed in conjunction with the Hallé, a Master Degree in solo performance with Distinction and a Bachelor Degree with First Class Honours.

A keen chamber musician, Lucy has been a member of the award winning Eblana String Trio since their formation in 2006. As well as frequent performances across the UK and further afield, Lucy is fortunate to have had masterclasses and lessons with distinguished musicians such as Hugh Maguire, Dora Schwartzberg, Gabor Takacs Nagy and Mstislav Rostropovich. The Eblanas are current Junior Fellows of Birmingham Conservatoire and the CBSO.

As a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, Lucy has performed in some of the Europe’s most prestigious venues including the Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Royal Albert Hall and the Concertgebouw.

Lucy is passionate about teaching and as well as her position at YYM, she is currently on the staff at Junior RNCM, Manchester, Leeds and Hull Universities and Procorda.

DEAN STOCKDALE, piano

Dean began studying the piano at the age of seven. He studied classical piano throughout his school years in the Northeast and then began performing locally for weddings and functions. After hearing Oscar Peterson for the first time in his teens Dean developed a passion for jazz and began studying jazz piano and improvisation. He now specialises in jazz and is a busy freelance pianist both as a solo performer and with various groups from swing bands to smaller trios and duos. He has recently completed a 6 month residency as jazz pianist for the Savoy Hotel, London.

As a tutor Dean teaches a wide range of students in classical piano, jazz piano and improvisation and theory. In addition to teaching for Yorkshire Young Musicians he is also tutor for the Cleveland School of Music.

ROBERT LOOMAN BMus (Hons), DipABRSM, Flute

Robert trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and Malmo Academy of Music in Sweden, and is a former prize winner of the British Flute Society Young Artist competition.

He has performed with among others, the Hallé, Royal Scottish National, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Ulster orchestras and can be heard on numerous recordings and soundtracks, in addition to broadcasts for BBC television and radio, and Classic FM.

Robert is an experienced tutor and teaches both privately and for Yorkshire Young Musicians. He boasts a 100% exam pass rate, although he gladly attributes this to the hard work and determination of his students!

HELGA PENNY BMus(Hons)(Sheffield), Cert Ed., Violin & viola

Helga Penny began studying the violin before transferring to the viola and studying
with Barbara Parham up to Grade 8. She also studied the piano with Ann Airton up to
Grade 8. She did a music degree at Sheffield University, receiving viola lessons from
both Hilary and Roger Bigley, graduating with an honours degree in 1985.

She joined the Kingston upon Hull Music Service later that year and has been a part
of that service ever since. She has also taught upper strings at Hymers College and
currently is the upper string specialist at Hull Collegiate School.

Helga is dedicated to teaching the violin and viola to students of all ages and
abilities, many achieving excellent results in music festivals, ABRSM and Trinity
music exams. She has had students accepted on both violin and viola at the RNCM,
RCS, RWCMD and the Birmingham Conservatoire as well as many different
universities.

She is particularly interested in chamber music and believes this to have an
extremely beneficial effect on the student’s musical development. Quartet coaching
has always been an important part of her teaching programme and many of her
ensembles have achieved success at Music Festivals and National competitions.
Helga has been Secretary of the Music Recital Club for many years, a position which
encourages young soloists and ensembles to enjoy valuable platform experience.

She is a keen performing musician and has been a member of the Hull Philharmonic
Orchestra for many years, many of them as Principal Viola. Her diverse tastes also
include playing opera, musical theatre, Palm Court and chamber music.

Helga is delighted to be part of the team at YYM.

TOM EVANS BMus(Hons) MMus LRSM, clarinet

Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2012 Tom has enjoyed a varied and busy freelance career combining orchestral and chamber music performance, music for health and education.

As an orchestral player he has performed with the Hallé Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Raymond Gubbay’s Manchester Concert Orchestra and Sinfonia Viva amongst others. With his reed trio, Trio Volant, he gives recitals up and down the country for music clubs and societies. Alongside this the trio leads educational workshops as part of the Live Music Now scheme, Superact and Creative Inspiration.

The Music for Health sector is an area that Tom is particularly enthusiastic about and he is an Associate Artist with Jessie's Fund, Musician in Residence in a number of SEN schools as well as a Workshop Leader with Music Unlimited.

ELIZABETH KENWOOD, oboe

ELIZABETH KENWOOD began learning the oboe aged 14 as a pupil at Weymouth Grammar School. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London, with Tess Miller and then George Caird as a post-graduate student. She also studied with Evelyn Rothwell-Barbirolli. At the Academy she won many prizes including the Leila Bull Oboe Prize as a first year student. During this time she won a concerto competition which led to performances of the Strauss Oboe Concerto with Edinburgh Youth Orchestra in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and in the Festival of British Youth Orchestras at the Central Hall, Tolcross, in the Edinburgh Festival. She successfully auditioned for the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and was awarded a scholarship to study in the Netherlands with virtuoso oboist, Thomas Indermuhle. She was then awarded a Rotary International Foundation Scholarship for chamber music studies at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada.

ELIZABETH has combined a busy career as both performer & teacher. As a performer she has given many concerts as a member of the "Kenwood-Herriott Duo", oboes & piano, both throughout the UK and internationally. The Duo performed in Canada, Western & Eastern Europe. A highlight was a concert tour of South East Asia under the auspices of the British Council, aided at one point by the Sultan of Brunei's Ghurkas! Recent performances include a recital at the International Double Reed Society Annual Convention in Birmingham, UK, where they performed sonatas for Bass Oboe & Piano by Arthur Butterworth and David Baker.

ELIZABETH has visited the Ukraine on six occasions to perform and teach. She performed the Strauss Oboe Concerto with the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra in the Festival entitled "Virtuosos" and has also performed a recital in the contemporary music festival, "Contrasts". Teaching at the Specialist Music School in Lviv & at Lviv Conservatoire are a regular feature of her visits. She has sat as an adjudicator for the "Dmytro Bida Woodwind Young Performers International Competition" with leading teachers & performers from all over the former Soviet Union. Elizabeth has also performed and taught masterclasses at the Minsk Conservatoire, Belarus.

In the UK Elizabeth has performed as a member of the "Kenwood-Herriott Duo" at many music festivals and music societies. As a concerto soloist she has regularly performed with Leeds Symphony Orchestra & Di Musici II. She is very active as a freelance oboe player for all kinds of orchestral music performances and also as a chamber music player. She teaches oboe, bassoon & all woodwind in schools throughout West Yorkshire including Prince Henrys Grammar School, Bradford Grammar School, Guiseley School & Woodhouse Grove. She has enjoyed a busy woodwind teaching career for nearly 30 years and previously taught at Winchester College, St Swithuns, Winchester, Queen Annes, Reading, Taunton School & Queens College, Taunton.

DAVID HUDSON BAKER BA hons.(mus) PG dip.(RNCM), bassoon

Born in Hyde, Cheshire in 1959 David began his path to a career in music learning the recorder at
school, and later the flute.

Whilst studying for his A levels he began lessons on a 'derelict' school bassoon and quickly advanced
to the dizzy height of Grade VIII ABRSM having been awarded a scholarship from Tameside MBC to
study with Charles Cracknel.

In 1978 David moved to the Music department of Huddersfield Polytechnic, studying with Richard
King (Charles Cracknel's successor as principal bassoon with the Hallé Orchestra) and specialising in
performance and composition. He performed in the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and
played concerti with various orchestras. In his final year he was awarded the J C Forbes performance
prize as well as gaining his B.A. (hons) mus.

After a further two years post graduate study at the RNCM (supported by a scholarship from the
Countess of Munster Trust Fund} and under the tutelage of Edward Warren (principal bassoon with
the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) David gained a PG dip.(RNCM) in orchestral studies and
joined the Miladiensemble, with whom he performed a wide variety of music for wind and piano and
gave a Wigmore Hall recital.

In the following years David worked as a session musician with Granada Television and the BBC
(radio and television), as well as freelancing with all the Northern based symphony and chamber
orchestras; playing principal bassoon with the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestras. He also undertook longer term contracts in the Manchester theatres.
David was appointed as principal bassoon with The Northern Chamber Orchestra in 1985 and two
years later (and running concurrently} as principal bassoon of The Orchestra of the Golden Age
(playing on 'original' instruments).

In 1991 David became sub principal bassoon with The Orchestra of Opera North based in Leeds, a
post he holds to this day; enjoying a wide variety of orchestral, chamber and opera performance in
the roll of both first and second bassoon.

David has taught bassoon at Leeds College of Music, Hull University and Breton Hall College. He now
teaches privately and at Huddersfield and Leeds Universities.

In recent years David has renewed his interest in composition and has had works performed in
university recitals, the International Double Reed Society convention and has also had works commissioned.
He is presently working on a recording of a collection of his chamber music works.

He has recently accepted the role of Vice President to Leeds Symphony Orchestra.

In his spare time David is an avid sailor and woodworker!

CHRISTOPHER MAYNARD

Christopher Maynard was born and brought up in Kingston upon Hull where he attended Hymers College. He started lessons on the violin at the age of 9 before transferring to the viola and continuing his instrumental studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow with James Durrant, a former pupil of Paul Hindemith. He graduated with a Diploma for viola teaching. He then returned to Hull and obtained a PGCE at Hull College of Education and began his career as a musician and teacher in the city conducting several orchestras, performing and teaching for the Hull Music Service.

Christopher has spent his whole working life in education as a violin/viola and music teacher in schools in Hull and the East Riding and, prior to the re-organisation of local councils in 1996, he held the post of Head of the North Humberside Music Support Service. At the re-organisation, he was appointed to the post of Head of the Music Service for Kingston upon Hull City Council.

As conductor of the City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, he has worked with many leading soloists over the years including Anya Alexeyeva, Alma Petchersky, Julian Lloyd Webber, David Greed, Bradley Creswick, the Cann Twins and David Johnson.

Christopher enjoys all styles of music from “classical” through jazz to contemporary and “popular” and plays regularly for the many orchestras, choral and theatrical societies in Hull and the surrounding areas. In his spare time Christopher is the Musical Director for the highly acclaimed Hessle Theatre Company and has also recently been appointed as Director of Music for the National Children’s Orchestra’s Northerlies Orchestra which meets on eight Sundays per year, between January and November, in Leeds.

ANTHONY FOUNTAIN BMus (HONS), MMus, PGCE, piano

Tony gained a first class degree in music in 2007 at the University of Hull, receiving the Andrew Brown Memorial Prize for his achievements. The following year he completed a Masters Degree funded by the AHRC, specialising in solo piano performance. He studied the piano with Irina Glushenkova and gained specialist training from some of the country’s leading concert pianists.

A piano tutor for over 15 years, Tony also teaches piano at Hull Collegiate School and is a regular accompanist for music exams, ballet, recitals, music festivals and the Maureen Hunter choir. The choir has recently performed at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Vatican. In 1999 he was awarded the Gough and Davy Rose Bowl for the most outstanding competitor at the Hull Music Festival.

JASDEEP SINGH, south asian classical

Born and raised in Leeds, Jasdeep acquired a deep insight into the art of Indian Classical music through his teacher, Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE (as a Yorkshire Young Musician) and has continued to develop his skills in performance, composition, training and teaching over the years.

His dynamic performance experience spans a wide range of prestigious and high-profile venues across the UK and abroad, including annually at the Southbank Centre, London as a member of Samyo and Tarang (National South Asian Music Orchestras), and Buckingham Palace in 2011 for HRH Prince Harry as part the BBC2 documentary Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment. In 2012, Jasdeep performed at the United Nations opening of the Amphitheatre in Doha, Qatar, in a production lead by the film composer Vangelis and the Royal Albert Hall hosted Jasdeep at the 2014 BBC Proms, showcasing his own original compositions based on Indian Classical music. Jasdeep recently performed live on BBC2 accompanying kathak finalist Vidya Patel on the BBC Young Dancer 2015 Grand Final, and accompanied the legendary Donovan at his Shram-Rock concert at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Jasdeep has also worked with musicians and producers such as Guy Chambers, Cerys Matthews, Melanie C, and Vangelis as a regular studio session musician on a diverse array of records and soundtracks. Jasdeep continues to push the boundaries of Indian classical music in the UK as well as developing his unique versatility as a young artist.

THOMAS GREED MMus, LTCL, PGAD, violin

Born in Leeds, Tom enjoys a varied freelance career in orchestral performing, chamber music and education work. Hailing from a highly musical family, he first took up the violin at the age of 6 with his father, David Greed (leader of the Orchestra of Opera North). He has since studied the instrument in London with Devorina Gamalova, and with Andrew Sherwood at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He holds qualifications as a Licentiate of Trinity College London and Master of Music from Goldsmiths, University of London. He also completed a Postgraduate Artist Diploma at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and was awarded distinction.

Since December 2014 Tom has been a regular extra player with the Orchestra of Opera North in addition to performing with various freelance orchestras in London and the North of England. His passion for working with young musicians led him to perform Vaughan-Williams’ The Lark Ascending with Somerset County Youth Orchestra on their tour of Scotland in 2014, an orchestra he has also worked with as a strings coach and mentor.

A keen chamber musician, he is also a founder member of the London-based Horizon String Quartet, with whom he plays first violin. With this ensemble he has been fortunate enough to take part in masterclasses with professional and award-winning quartets such as the Wihan Quartet, Carducci Quartet and Piatti Quartet. He has also appeared at the Edinburgh Festival playing Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale and played in the UK tour of Jonathan Dove’s chamber opera Swanhunter in 2015.

KRISTIN LIEN, piano

Kristin Lien was born in Taiwan in 1978. She undertook her initial studies at the Kuang-Jen Music School as a pupil of Anita Cheung and won numerous prizes and awards for both piano and cello.
In 1995 she was awarded a Music scholarship to Durham School and she later became Durham Young Musician after a recital in Green Palace, Durham.

In 1997, she was awarded an entrance scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music, where she learnt with Carole Presland. During this time, she performed in numerous concerts as both soloist and accompanist, also appearing in Masterclasses with Anne Queffelec, Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe and Renna Kellaway. Kristin was awarded the Gordon Green memorial award and the “Anne Cantelo” Scholarship in 2001.

Between 2002 and 2003, Kristin achieved her Postgraduate Diploma and the Professional Performance Diploma at the RNCM. Since then, she has continued with her professional development training by completing her PGCE and was awarded Certificate of Teaching (CTABRSM) by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2012.

As a highly committed teacher, she is now a member of staff at Junior RNCM, Yorkshire Young Musicians, Bowdon Preparatory School and the Bolton School.

JO McCALLUM, saxophone

Jo studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and since graduating has worked as a performer, arranger and teacher.

She has directed and performed in her own projects and in 2009/10 she managed an Arts Council funded tour for her own big band, featuring and promoting Manchester musicians, composers and arrangers.

Jo's arrangements have been performed by the RNCM Big Band featuring guitarist Mike Walker, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Big Band, Jeremy Sassoon's Tribute to Ray Charles, Paul Pashley and the Litework Collective. She has also been commissioned to arrange big band and small band music for education projects for Music For Life, Runshaw College and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.

She recently led an Arts Council funded youth big band project which commissioned twelve composers to write a piece for youth jazz orchestra. The original project culminated in a north west tour with the Music For Life Cheshire Youth Jazz Orchestra featuring guitarist, Mike Walker and in 2014/15, Mike and Jo rehearsed and performed the commissioned music again with the Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra.

FIONA MANCEY-JONES BA hons LTCL LRSM, flute/chamber music

Fiona Mancey-Jones (nee McLaughlin) started her music education in Hull in the 1980’s. After leaving school she took her music degree at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, which included a term at the Lisbon School of Music, with Anthony Pringsheim. Fiona was awarded a full bursary to study at the Oxford Summer School for Flutes with Wissam Boustany, Peter Lloyd, Janet Way, Clive Conway and Anders Ljungar-Chapelon. She then went on to study Flute with Peters Ricjks at Maastricht Conservatorium, The Netherlands. This was followed by studies with Anders Ljungar-Chapelon in Malmo, Sweden where she gained a distinction in flute interpretation.

For the last 15 years Fiona has combined a career of playing and teaching in Europe and the Middle East. Her teaching has involved helping to set up the first instrumental service at the British School in Abu Dhabi where she was its first woodwind teacher, running woodwind workshops in Ankara Turkey and Udaipur India and teaching in Southern Holland and Denmark. She also teaches Flute at the Kozani International Music Seminar in Northern Greece as well as regularly running ensembles and one to one lessons for adults and children back in North Yorkshire.

Fiona has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at many venues some include the Worcester Three Choirs Festival, Eton House for the Duke of Westminster, The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s Sea Palace, Mellerstain House in the Borders, Chester Town Hall, Kirkleatham Alms Chapel, The Customs House South Shields, Castle Howard, The Unitarian Church in York and St Oswald’s Church in Sowerby.

EMMA HAUGHTON BA Hons MA ASPgDip, clarinet

Emma has recently completed an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music in solo performance and has studied clarinet with Thomas Verity, Linda Merrick­ and Antonio Salguaro. Prior to this, she was awarded a Distinction for her Masters degree in Musicology and Performance at Liverpool Hope Univeristy.

Emma has performed as a guest soloist with many prestigious ensembles including the King’s Division Army Band in 2005, the Royal Northern College of Music’s Brand New Orchestra in 2015, giving the UK premiere of Stephen Pratt’s 'Uno' later in 2015.

Emma has played with professional and semi-professional orchestras, and performs regularly with session orchestras and pit orchestras. She teaches woodwind across the North West, and is the Musical Director for the Sefton Junior Wind Orchestra, and a tutor for the Sefton Junior Philharmonic Orchestra.

Emma is grateful to have been awarded the Poynton Bursary for her Masters studies, and the EMI Sound Foundation Scholarship. Emma also studies conducting with Evgenia Petrenko (wife of the Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko)

EMILY HOOKER, piano

Emily is currently studying for her Masters of Music at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Dina Parakhina. This follows undergraduate study at the Royal College of Music in London, where, in 2011, as a major prize-winner, she graduated with a first class honours degree. A natural performer, she has enjoyed playing in concerts and competitions. First prize at London’s prestigious ‘Emmanuel Piano Trophy’ competition is one of her many successes and she was also a semi-finalist on the BBC’s ‘Classical Star’. Emily has achieved distinction in two performing diplomas; the ABRSM and LRSM.

Emily has given many recitals at major London venues, including the Southbank Centre, Steinway Hall, and St. John’s Smith Square and she also embarked on a concert tour of Southern Switzerland and Northern Italy. She has collaborated with several orchestras in highly acclaimed performances throughout the UK and Europe, including notable accounts of the Schumann, Grieg, Saint-Saëns 2nd, and Beethoven 4th piano concertos. She also performed Mozart Piano Concerto no.24 in C minor with the Royal College of Music symphony orchestra and renowned conductor Roy Goodman, as a result of winning the internal concerto competition. Most recently, Emily enjoyed collaborating with conductor Peter Stark for a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no.3.

She has taken part in public master classes with internationally renowned professors, including Dmitri Alexeev; Tatiana Sarkissova; Jura Margulis; Pascal Nemirovski and Andrew Ball. Following audition, Emily was awarded a place on the highly presitigious Tanglewood Summer Music Programme in the summer of 2013. In the same year Emily was also invited to give a lecture-recital at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Aside from solo performance, Emily has always been extremely involved in chamber music, developing her skills under the guidance of international tutors at Pro Corda, an International Chamber Music Academy for piano and strings in the UK. She has since been invited to return as a coach, most recently working in partnership with Professor Louise Lansdown (Head of Strings at the Birmingham Conservatoire), teaching on and accompanying Pro Corda courses for undergraduates. During her time studying in London, Emily formed a very successful piano trio with violinist, Sophie Mather and cellist, Jonathan Rees. Together they explored much of the repertoire, giving a series of recitals in Cambridge, Bristol and the North to great critical acclaim.

Christine began her chamber music career as a cellist with the Bartholdy Piano Trio, performing in Manchester, Birmingham and St John Smith’s Square, London, gaining the Idelwild Trust and TSB Awards. Whilst at the Royal Northern College she played with the Armida String quartet, participating in master classes with the Vermeer, Brodsky and Franz Schubert Quartets.

As a member of the Alexandra String Quartet she made appearances around the country, including as “quartet in residence” at the Brereton International Wind Symposium, working with Gervase de Peyer, Maurice Bourg and Walter Boeykens. Later came the Roslyn Piano Trio, a Manchester – based group placing emphasis on playing rarely heard 20th century repertoire alongside the more well known standards.

Christine also forged duo partnerships with pianist and composer Anthony Hedges and cellist Julie Wright, and more recently with Italian bassist Pietro Lusvardi in duo “Basse Corde”, taking diverse repertoire from baroque to jazz / improvisation to concerts and master classes around the north of England.

Solo engagements include concertos and recital work, such as the Festival d’Aiuot d’Aquitaine (Dordogne) and charity performance for the Jacqueline Du Pres Memorial Fund in the presence of patron, the Duchess of Kent.

She combines this with work as a freelance orchestral cellist, accompanist and teacher. Her first teaching post was at St Peter’s and St Olave’s school in York, combining beginner to post grade 8 cello pupils, with ensemble and orchestral tuition. Christine is now a part-time tutor of cello and chamber music for the Hull Music Service, pupils ranging from Wider Opportunities classes, to students continuing to pursue courses in music at University and Conservatoires, as well as ensembles performing at the National Finals in Birmingham of Music for Youth. She has a number of advanced and adult private students and joined the teaching staff at Yorkshire Young Musicians in 2015.

RICHARD ASHTON

Richard is General Manager of the Howard Assembly Room at Opera North. He also project managed the renovation of this arts venue which produces small scale opera, chamber, world and folk music and education projects for the Company. Previously for Opera North Richard has been Orchestra Director and PR Manager.

Prior to his move to Yorkshire Richard spent six years as a professional oboist working predominantly with Scottish Opera, and also BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He then joined the PR agency Weber Shandwick based in London as an account manager.

Richard became a trustee of Yorkshire Young Musicians in January 2014.

MARK HILTON

Mark joined the Board in 2015 and is currently Head of Finance at Leeds College of Music. Mark has over 28 years experience in the charitable and voluntary sector; his previous role was Head of Finance at Relate, prior to that Director of Finance & Resources at Museums Sheffield. He has also been the Accounting Officer for Renaissance Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Hub for Museums, which distributed Central Government funding to museums in the Yorkshire region. He previously worked for KPMG for 11 years, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. His roles at KPMG encompassed audit, advising small owner managed businesses, finishing as a Manager in Corporate Finance.

Currently Mark is on the Board of Sensoria Limited, a not for profit company organising an annual music & film festival in Sheffield. He has also been Trustee and Treasurer on the main board of Charity Finance Group, serving two full terms after chairing the Northern Steering Committee of CFG since 2006.

Mark is a passionate advocate for the voluntary sector as well as having a deep and wide ranging interest in music and art of all forms.

THOM MEREDITH M.A. Oxon.

Thom was educated at Lawnswood School, Leeds and then Brasenose College, Oxford where he was awarded an Exhibition for conducting the Chapel Choir (1985-1987). Following a PGCE qualification from the University of Leeds he taught Music in schools including four years as Head of Music at Colne Valley High School. Thom’s career involvement with young musicians continued when he joined the staff of Kirklees Music School in September 1999 as Assistant Principal. He was appointed Principal in 2004. The Music School's concerts, involving choirs and many varied instrumental ensembles from throughout Kirklees, have become established over the years as showcases of young musical excellence and Thom very proudly names Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra among his principal conducting interests.

Thom is well known as the conductor of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir which has had numerous successes in festivals, concerts and competitions both at home and abroad. In addition to this, Thom’s career as a baritone soloist has taken him the length and breadth of the country, performing in operas and oratorios as well as lighter concerts and first performances of contemporary works.

PAUL MOFFATT

Paul is a Senior Manager and People Leader at KPMG based in the Leeds office. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and has 15 years’ experience advising clients in the pensions industry on a range of issues. He is an enthusiastic amateur clarinettist and plays in the Sinfonia of Leeds.

FIONA PACEY

Fiona was an upper strings teacher, then Head of the Music Service in Leeds until retirement, when she became a student of composition at Huddersfield University.

Her doctoral thesis was on the psychology of learning and teaching and learning instrumental music, specifically variable practice. She chaired the Federation of Music Services string group leading to the publication of A Common Approach, a framework for a teaching curriculum.

GERRY GODLEY

He was formerly director of Improvised Music Company (IMC), an Arts Council funded resource organisation for jazz and related music, established by Irish musicians and supporters in 1991. Today it is among Ireland’s leading specialist music producers with a portfolio that includes 12 Points, an award winning festival showcase for emerging European artists that rotates its location between Dublin and other European cities, and Down With Jazz, a festival of creative music that draws its inspiration from Ireland’s anti-jazz campaign of the 1930s.

Gerry is a saxophonist who has worked as a freelance musician and also as a teacher, building a programme of educational provision for early-career musicians. He has served as Secretary General of the European Jazz Network and is a member of the European sub-group for Leeds 2023, the city’s bid for European Capital of Culture.

GARY McKILL MA

Gary McKill is an award-winning composer-producer of many genres including all contemporary electric/electronic Pop and Rock forms through to orchestral. His original work has appeared on countless recordings and broadcasts for leading industry names in the UK and across the world; BBC, Sony Music, Sony Playstation, Channel 4, Hammer Films etc.

Teaching includes tutoring and guest lecturing up to university level with specialities in compositional practice (from Classical to Pop-Rock and for cinema), broadcast quality music production and electric guitar. His non-hierarchical approach refers to all music forms with the aim that theory, practice and technology are used for individual development and expression.

Gary was awarded an MA (distinction) from Leeds College of Music.

GEMMA SALMON BMus(Hons)

Gemma Salmon, originally from South Devon, studied piano at the Royal Northern College of Music with Paul Janes and graduated in 2009. As well as teaching for Yorkshire Young Musicians at Leeds College of Music, Gemma works at Xaverian 6th Form College, a private music school called The Music Place, and is also a deputy teacher at Junior Royal Northern College of Music, all based in Manchester. With over ten years of teaching experience, Gemma enjoys helping students overcome challenges and developing their musical understanding and creativity.

She has also worked for a specialist music theory website developer, writing content and recording scripts for educational videos. Gemma has a keen interest in music marketing, having worked with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, at the RNCM and on other musical projects.

GERALDINE CASSIDY

Geraldine Cassidy was born in Dublin; she studied music and history at Trinity College, and violin and singing at the Dublin College of Music. She continued her singing studies in London at the Guildhall School of Music, at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She was engaged at the Vienna State Opera as a member of the opera studio and her first professional engagements were in Ulm and in Salzburg, playing leading roles including Konstanze (Die Entführung) Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and the Countess (Marriage of Figaro), Violetta (La Traviata) and Gilda (Rigoletto), Rosina (Barber of Seville), Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress) and many more.

She then lived in France and in Switzerland where she taught singing in music schools, universities and conservatoires, before moving to the UK in 2015, where she took up her present post as Senior Lecturer in Singing at the Leeds College of Music.

KATH BECKER BMUS(hons) PGCE

Kath Becker’s early musical experiences involved playing the piano accordion in music festivals up and down the country. She took up the clarinet and piano whilst studying at secondary school and later fulfilled a life long dream of playing the cello and now enjoys sitting in the cello section of Bolton Symphony Orchestra. Kath gained a degree in music at University College Cardiff and later a PGCE at St Martins College Lancaster. She has taught extensively both privately and in the state school system and has most recently joined the teaching staff at Bolton Music Service, the lead Hub of Greater Manchester. Her desire to develop her pedagogy led her to study Dalcroze at the Royal Northern College of Music here she received the Jean Vincent Award in recognition of her dedicated work and achievement. She also gained her Certificate in Dalcroze.

Dave Bainbridge BMus (hons), MMus

Dave is a guitarist and researcher based in Manchester. He studied music to Master’s level at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he is now undertaking a PhD funded by a prestigious Arts and Humanities Research Council Studentship. His doctoral thesis is a study of political philosophy and electronic mediation within politically motivated art.

As a musician working primarily in contemporary and experimental music, Dave has given first performances and recordings of many works. He has played at various significant international festivals, including Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK) and SPOR festival (Denmark), but also in basements, warehouses and car parks around the UK. His ensemble experience includes a troubadour duo with Laurie Tompkins for a Sound and Music-funded tour, Almost Credible Music, Graham Llewellyn, An Assembly, ddmmyy, The House of Bedlam, the Northern Chamber Orchestra and Manchester Camerata.

Dave s recording experience ranges from Divine Art to Classic FM, and includes numerous BBC Radio broadcasts. He has an album (remote systems, with Aaron Parker, Slip Imprint) due out next year.

CHRISTOPHER LITTLEWOOD

Christopher graduated with a first class degree from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in 2016. Christopher’s operatic roles include Spoletta Tosca; Daniel Buchanan Street Scene; Njegus The Merry Widow; Monsieur Triquet Eugene Onegin; and he also sings regularly with the chorus of Bergen National Opera.

Christopher is a regular guest soloist throughout the UK and has performed many works including Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s The Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, and Bach’s Magnificat. In 2015, Christopher made his debut at the Bridgewater Hall (Manchester) as the Tenor soloist in the UK premiere of Penderecki's Symphony No.7 ‘Seven Gates of Jerusalem’.

ANDREW DUNLOP BMus(hons), GradRNCM, MMus(dist.), DMA

Equally at home in chamber music, song, and solo recitals, Andrew is a versatile musician who has performed across the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Switzerland and New Zealand. He received his Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music in New York, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar under the guidance of Professor Barry Snyder. Andrew previously studied at the RNCM with Carole Presland, Alexander Melnikov and Mark Ray where he graduated with the Masters of Music in Performance with Distinction and the Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours, in addition to the Alfred Clay Scholarship and the Hilda Anderson Dean Award for the highest recital and academic marks. During his student career, he was awarded scholarships from numerous organisations including Fulbright, Eastman, RNCM, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Craxton Memorial Trust, Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship Trust and the Doris Strake Prize from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He was also a prize-winner in the RNCM Concerto, Ravel, Recital and Weill Prize for Chamber Music. From 2011-2012, Andrew served as the John Wilson Junior Fellow in Collaborative Piano at the RNCM.

In addition to his work as the Company/Orchestral Pianist for Northern Ballet, he regularly works as a staff pianist for Lake District Summer Music, the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain, the Geneva International Summer Festival and Academy of Music and is an examiner for the ABRSM. Andrew is the Artistic Director of ‘Lorn Live’ Chamber Music Festival in Oban, Argyll. Previously, Andrew has worked as a Staff Pianist/Coach for Leeds College of Music and taught Keyboard Skills at the RNCM. Andrew is a Samling Scholar and Concordia Artist.
Andrew also enjoys working in the field of Traditional Music and reached the finals of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2013. He has represented Scotland twice at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland where he won First Prize in the New Song and International New Song Competition and Second Prize in the International Harp Competition. More recently, Andrew has served as an adjudicator for the Royal National Mòd in both Scotland and Canada. Frequently working with his sister, Gaelic Singer Joy Dunlop, Andrew can be heard on both her albums Dùsgadh and Faileasan.
Andrew was born in 1985 in the Scottish west highland town of Oban and grew up in the nearby village of Connel, gaining his formative education at Achaleven Primary School and Oban High School respectively.

PIETRO LUSVARDI

Pietro has an extensive background not only in teaching, but also as a performer and composer, covering both classical and jazz. Following graduation from the Conservatoire of Como in Italy he played professionally with a number of European orchestras including Orchestra Sinfonica di Brescia and Pomerigi Musicali in Italy, and also toured with the Sinfonica Orchestra of Cluj Napoca and the Filarmonica Oltenia of Craiova in Romania. He founded the award winning avant-garde jazz ensemble Gatto Marte, which has published ten albums to date. The group, playing Pietro’s compositions in 2000 won the 1st prize at the European Festival Arezzo Wave as best emerging band; and playing his composition to accompany the silent film ‘Gold Rush’, won 1st prize in that category at the Harlock International Festival of Bolzano in 1998.

From 2000 Pietro spent 4 years in California playing with orchestras including the Monterey Symphony Orchestra and the Bay Shore Lyric Opera Company, and various classical ensembles. He also performed extensively in jazz venues and continued to compose and perform for silent film.

Since coming to the UK in 2004 Pietro has been commissioned to write an opera by Teesside University which has been performed in England and Ireland, to write music for ballet by Tees Valley Dance, and to write a Concerto For Double Bass and Orchestra by the Hull Philharmonic Society, which he performed in 2011 with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2013 with the Teesside Symphony Orchestra.

Pietro currently also has a busy teaching schedule including pupils at the University of York, Durham University, Hull University, Ampleforth College, and Hymers College Hull.

THOMAS SHERMAN BA (Hons)

Tom is a professional musician and music leader, with considerable experience working with young people in all sectors through his work with organisations such as Live Music Now and Jessie’s Fund. He takes an improvisational, co-creative approach to music making, and is experienced in delivering specialist training in this area - including as part of the Music For Health module at the RNCM. Tom promotes well-being, enjoyment, and confidence away from the music stand!